The article uses the cartographic metaphor to describe the relations between
culture and nature, science and life world, signifier and signified. Modernism may be
defined as a project to map the whole of human reality to ensure our comprehension
and control of it. The Hobbes-Boyle controversy is cited by way of example. Today this
project is under critical scrutiny, because there is more to the world than what is
captured in maps. The main example of control and reduction of meaning is the way
human nature is defined. Nowadays the main factor is not so much ideology of one
kind or another but, increasingly, technoscience. Mapping the future of humankind
will depend on successful integration of humans with nature, faith with reason, natural
sciences with human sciences, physicality with spirituality. Heidegger provides an
example of a meaningful way to integrate science and technology with the human life
world. Finally, the self-transcending character of human culture remains the driving force behind the process.